Synopses & Reviews
In his first book for adults, New York Times bestselling author Hill Harper invites you to join the Conversation: an honest dialogue about the breakdown of African-American relationships. For generations African Americans have turned to their families in times of need – but now, this proud and strong legacy is in peril. Black men and women have stopped communicating effectively and it threatens the very relationships and marriages necessary to sustain the Black family. Today, less than a third of Black children are being raised in two-parent households, a sharp decline from past generations. So, why is it so difficult for Black men and women to build long-term, loving and mutually beneficial relationships? What is happening in the community that makes it so hard for women and men to find their way to each other? And why are there so few people who manage to hold a marriage together, even after finding a person to love?
In his moving yet practical book, Hill Harper undertakes a journey both universal and deeply personal in search of answers to these questions. He has conversations with friends and strangers –married, single and divorced – and learns about their private struggles, emotional vulnerabilities, and real concerns, and begins to see common themes emerge. As his journey picks up momentum, Hill begins to recognize his own struggles in other people’s stories, and is encouraged to more deeply examine his own relationship issues.
Why does so much misinformation and mistrust exist between the sexes? Hill addresses the stereotypes that have developed in the Black community, in the hope that by addressing the challenges, Black men and women can find their way to common ground. The Conversation aims to open up the lines of communication, and offers inspiration to those who want to take control of this crisis and start building successful, sustainable relationships.
Review
"When Hill told me about Letters to a Young Sister, my first thought was how badly I could have used a book like this growing up."
-Gabrielle Union
"This book would make a wonderful gift for any teen looking to find her place in life."
-Star Tribune (Minneapolis) "Hill, speaking like an older brother, lays out his vision to young women who are confronting rough issues on how to become the architect of their own lives."
- Ebony
"In his straight-talking style, Hill helps his young sister build self- confidence, self-reliance, self- respect, and encourages her on her journeys towards becoming a strong and successful woman."
- Concrete Loop
"Letters To a Young Sister: Define Your Destiny" won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Youth/Teens
Review
"Hill Harper trades solving crimes on-screen for a new mission: fixing relationship drama."
-Essence
"Hill's work presents a light, insightful, and accessible user's manual for African American men and women to better understand that which keeps us apart (and hopefully what can bring us closer together)."
-Wearerespectablenegroes.blogspot.com
Review
In a direct and often colloquial tone . . . the letters stress the importance of having options and working smart, not just hard. (
THE NEW YORK TIMES)
Harpers message is a solo soaring above the choir. (LOS ANGELES TIMES)
Hill writes in a down-to-earth style. . . . A priceless, no-nonsense, step-by-step guide. (The Dayton Defender)
Filled with heartfelt wisdom and solid step-by-step strategies for cultivating self-respect, Letters to a Young Brother is an inspirational guidebook to a better life and a book that will change lives. (Black College Today)
[This] book can serve as a strong and silent mentor. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
In clear, accessible language, Harper encourages his youthful readers to maintain productive values and never give up hope. . . . With frank, loving advice about relationships, careers, sex, education, spirituality, and money, Harper helps young readers take that first step toward fruitful change. (Jabari Asim, The Washington Post)
Review
Praise for Letters to an Incarcerated Brother “A must-read for all parents to share with their sons (and daughters).”
-Essence Magazine
"A clear, soul-stirring story that compels you (the reader) to take action and help change America for the better."
-IamEntertainmentMagazine.com
"Sage, dignified adjuration for the imprisoned. . . . An inspiring jail companion guidebook brimming with straight-talking tough love."
-Kirkus Reviews
Select Praise for The Wealth Cure:
“This is a different kind of financial book, one that not only urges us to look at how we use our money but also at how we define wealth. It's as much about personal philosophy as about advice on building a solid financial future.”
-USA Today
“The Wealth Cure could fit comfortably in the self-help or personal finance aisle, melding together life strategies, wisdom from family and strangers he meets on a cross-country train ride, and nuts-and-bolts budgeting advice. It's a guide that doesn't promise to get you rich quick, but to quickly help your life get richer.”
-AOL Daily Finance
“Too many of us think we don't have the ability to better identify how to spend our money, but in Hill Harper's latest book he gives advice on simple ways to save more and admits some of his own financial and personal challenges.”
-Chicagotribune.com
Select Praise for The Conversation:
“Hill Harper trades solving crimes on-screen for a new mission: fixing relationship drama.”
-Essence
“Hill's work presents a light, insightful, and accessible user's manual for African American men and women to better understand that which keeps us apart (and hopefully what can bring us closer together).”
-wearerespectablenegroes.blogspot.com
Select Praise for Letters to a Young Sister:
“When Hill told me about Letters to a Young Sister, my first thought was how badly I could have used a book like this growing up.” - Gabrielle Union
“This book would make a wonderful gift for any teen looking to find her place in life.”
-Star Tribune
"Get it, read it, and share it."
-Detroit Free Press
"Hill, speaking like an older brother, lays out his vision to young women who are confronting rough issues on how to become the architect of their own lives."
-Ebony
"Hill Harper is right. Now is our time (both sisters and brothers, young and old) to uplift ourselves."
-BlackVoices.com
“In his straight-talking style, Hill helps his young sister build self-confidence, self-reliance, self-respect, and encourages her on her journeys towards becoming a strong and successful woman.”
-Concrete Loop
Select Praise for Letters to a Young Brother:
“Harpers message is a solo soaring above the choir...”
-The LA Times
“In clear, accessible language, Harper encourages his youthful readers to maintain productive values and never give up hope. . . . With frank, loving advice about relationships, careers, sex, education, spirituality and money, Harper helps young readers take that first step toward fruitful change.”
-The Washington Post
“In a direct and often colloquial tone...the letters stress the importance of having options and working smart, not just hard.”
-The New York Times
“An inspirational guidebook for young men...he tackles real life issues that young men encounter today.”
-The Charlotte Post
“...inspiration to young men clamoring for advice and encouragement at a time when popular culture offers little positive direction... Although aimed at young black men, this book, with its contemporary language and approach, should have appeal for youth of both sexes and all races.”
-Booklist
Review
"A must-read for all parents to share with their sons (and daughters)."
—Essence
Synopsis
Now in paperback: the New York Times bestselling book of inspirational advice and wisdom for young women from the powerhouse public speaker, star of CSI: NY, and bestselling author of Letters to a Young Brother * Does life sometimes seem so much harder for girls?
* Do you ever feel insecure, pressured, or confused?
* Do you wish you had someone to give you honest advice on topics like boys, school, family, and pursuing your dreams?
* Do you want to make a positive impact on the world, but don't even know how to begin?
In the follow-up to his award winning national bestseller, Letters to a Young Brother, actor and star of CSI: NY shares powerful wisdom for young women everywhere, drawing on the courageous advice of the female role models who transformed his life.
Letters to a Young Sister unfolds as a series of letters written by older brother Hill to a universal young sister. She's up against the same challenges as every young woman: from relating to her parents and dealing with peer pressure, to juggling schoolwork and crushes and keeping faith in the face of heartache. Hill offers guidance, encouragement, personal stories, and asks his female friends to help answer some truly tough questions. Every young sister needs to know that it's okay to dream big and to deFINE her own destiny. This is a book that will educate, uplift and inspire.
Including original contributions from:
Michelle Obama * Angela Basset * Ciara * Tatyana Ali * Eve * Malinda Williams * Chanel Iman * Kim Porter * and many more.
Synopsis
The perennial New York Times bestselling author helps readers discover how to put money in its place and use wealth-building as a tool for joy and fulfillment.
Hill Harper is uniquely poised to guide readers through tough times and offers bestselling advice for reaping the rewards of a truly happy life. With The Wealth Cure, he does more than that: He presents a revolutionary new definition of wealth, motivating readers to not only build financial security but to also achieve wealth in every aspect of their lives.
Using his own journey as a parable, Harper inspires the reader to evaluate their values while explaining the importance of laying a sound financial foundation and how to recognize the worth of your relationships and increase the value of your interactions with the people in your life. Drawing on his personal recollections and true stories from family and friends, Harper helps readers begin to see money not as a goal but as a tool that provides freedom for following their passions. The keys include investing in yourself, tapping the resources you need, and taking responsibility for how those resources are used. Far from a get-rich-quick primer, The Wealth Cure brims with inspired wisdom for building a lasting bounty from the experiences, loved ones, and achievements that really matter.
Synopsis
Most people associate Hill Harper with Hollywood, as he’s appeared in dozens of films and television shows. But he is just as comfortable in a school auditorium, rousing groups of students with his unique style of real-life wisdom. Having addressed thousands of high-school and middle- school students over the years, Hill is ready to take his message to an even wider audience. Letters to a Young Brother is drawn from the humbling life lessons he learned on the road to his Ivy League education and beyond. Inspired by the countless letters and e-mails he has received from teens, Hill Harper set out to write a series of letters to young people that would catch the attention of even the most reluctant readers.
The result is a motivational but approachable book full of encouragement on a wide array of hot topics, particularly among young African-American and Hispanic men. From the challenges of getting a good education and making it through college to the media’s destructive emphasis on material wealth, Letters to a Young Brother delivers eye-opening answers. Reminiscent of Marian Wright Edelman’s New York Times bestseller, The Measure of Our Success: A Letter to My Children and Yours, Hill Harper’s words will resonate for years to come.
Synopsis
Watch a Video
In his first book for adults, the New York Times bestselling author sparks honest dialogues between men and women, in the tradition of Steve Harvey's Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.
Only 34 percent of African-American children today are raised in two- parent households, a sharp contrast to 1966, when 85 percent of black children were raised by two parents. In provocative but heartfelt words, Hill Harper takes on these urgent challenges, bringing a variety of issues out of the shadows. In The Conversation, Harper speaks to women and men with clear-eyed perspective, covering topics such as:
•The roots of the breakdown in the black family
•The myth that there are no mature, single, black male professionals
•What women can do to alleviate the "heaviness" they sometimes attach to dating
•What men can do to break the cycle of being a player
•The difference between sex and intimacy
•Bridging the communication gap
•Self-worth and net worth, and why you should never settle for an unworthy partner
Capturing the conversations Harper and his friends frequently have, this book is destined to be one of Harper's most healing contributions.
Synopsis
Offering inspirational advice in a down-to-earth style, this unique compilation of letters provides wisdom, guidance, and heartfelt insight to help the reader chart their own path to success. Based on the authors motivational speaking at inner-city schools across the country, the letters deal with the tough issues that face young people today.
Bombarded with messages from music and the media, Harper set out to dispel the stereotypical image of success that young people receive today and instead emphasizes alternative views of what it truly means to be a successful male, such as educational and community achievements and self-respect. Intended to provide this frequently regarded lost generation of young men with words of encouragement and guidance, Harpers deep-rooted passion regarding the plight of todays youth drove him to write this book, sure to change the lives of readers for years to come.
Synopsis
A compelling, important addition to Hill Harpers bestselling series, inspired by the numerous young inmates who write to him seeking guidance
After the publication of the bestselling Letters to a Young Brother, accomplished actor and speaker Hill Harper began to receive an increasing number of moving letters from inmates who yearned for a connection with a successful role model. With disturbing statistics on African-American incarceration on his mind (one in six black men were incarcerated as of 2001, and one in three can now expect to go to prison some time in their lifetimes), Harper set out to address the specific needs of inmates.
A powerful message from the heart, Letters to an Incarcerated Brother provides advice and inspiration in the face of despair along with encouraging words for restoring a sense of self-worth. As the founder of Manifest Your Destiny, a nonprofit outreach program for at-risk teens, Harper has seen firsthand the transformative effect of mentorship and the power of a positive role model. This latest addition to Hill Harpers Letters series delivers visionary, compassionate responses to the real-life circumstances of inmates. As with the other Letters books, Harper includes moving contributions from top educators, activists, thought leaders, and entertainers. Uplifting and insightful, Letters to an Incarcerated Brother provides the hope and inspiration inmates and their families need.
Synopsis
A compelling, important addition to Hill Harpers bestselling series, inspired by young inmates who write to him seeking guidance After the publication of the bestselling Letters to a Young Brother, accomplished actor and speaker Hill Harper began to receive an increasing number of moving letters from inmates who yearned for a connection with a successful role model. With disturbing statistics on African-American incarceration rates on his mind, Harper set out to address the specific needs of inmates. Harpers powerful message from the heart provides advice and inspiration in the face of despair along with encouraging words for restoring a sense of self-worth. Uplifting and insightful, Letters to an Incarcerated Brother provides the hope and inspiration inmates and their families need.
About the Author
Currently starring in CSI: NY, Hill Harper has appeared in numerous prime- time television shows and feature films, including Beloved and He Got Game. He graduated magna cum laude from Brown University with a B.A. and cum laude from Harvard Law School. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government. He was recently named one of People magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive.